U.S. Division of Battle Launches Trade Competitors for Drone Dominance Program Part I
The U.S. Division of Battle has formally introduced the businesses invited to take part in Part I of its Drone Dominance Program (DDP), an acquisition initiative supposed to speed up the event and fielding of low-cost unmanned aerial methods (UAS) for one-way assault missions. The announcement, issued on February 3, 2026, outlines a aggressive analysis occasion scheduled to start February 18 at Fort Benning, Georgia, often called “the Gauntlet.”
Initiated beneath Secretary of Battle Pete Hegseth’s acquisition reform technique, the DDP goals to streamline procurement by incorporating iterative, operator-focused testing and speedy prototype supply. This system’s construction options 4 phases with a cumulative finances sign of roughly $1.1 billion and a purpose of equipping U.S. forces with a whole lot of 1000’s of low-cost, weaponized drones by 2027.
Throughout Part I, navy operators will assess collaborating methods throughout a spread of operational eventualities. Upon completion of the Gauntlet trials in early March, the Division of Battle plans to put roughly $150 million in prototype supply orders, with preliminary deliveries to start shortly thereafter and proceed over subsequent months.
Part I Vendor Contributors
The Division has invited 25 firms to compete within the Part I analysis. These corporations characterize a mixture of small companies, established protection contractors, and specialised unmanned methods builders. Most are U.S.-based entities, whereas a small quantity are international corporations with protection or unmanned methods experience. The collaborating firms, listed alphabetically, are:
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ANNO.AI, Inc.
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Ascent Aerosystems Inc.
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Auterion Authorities Options Inc.
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DZYNE Applied sciences, LLC
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Ewing Aerospace LLC
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Farage Precision, LLC
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Firestorm Labs, Inc.
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Common Cherry Corp
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Greensight Inc.
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Griffon Aerospace, Inc.
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Halo Aeronautics, LLC
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Kratos SRE, Inc.
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ModalAI, Inc.
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Napatree Expertise LLC
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Neros, Inc.
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Nokturnal AI
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Paladin Protection Providers LLC
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Efficiency Drone Works LLC
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Responsibly Ltd.
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Swarm Protection Applied sciences, LLC
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Teal Drones Inc
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Ukrainian Protection Drones Tech Corp
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Vector Protection, Inc
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W S Darley & Co
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Xtend Actuality Inc.
Vendor Base and Capabilities
A preliminary evaluation of the corporate roster signifies that almost all of invited corporations are U.S.-based, reflecting this system’s emphasis on strengthening home industrial capability. These embody conventional aerospace and protection contractors in addition to newer entrants specializing in unmanned methods and autonomous applied sciences. For instance:
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Kratos SRE, Inc. is a subsidiary of a bigger U.S. protection agency recognized for unmanned automobiles and protection electronics.
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Neros, Inc. is an American maker of low-cost expendable drones designed for navy purposes and speedy manufacturing.
In contrast, a small variety of firms on the listing are worldwide or stem from abroad markets:
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Common Cherry Corp and Ukrainian Protection Drones Tech Corp are firms based mostly in Ukraine with expertise growing unmanned methods utilized in fight environments, together with first-person view assault drones.
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Auterion Authorities Options Inc. traces its roots to a software program group with ties to European expertise improvement, together with AI-enabled steerage methods for unmanned platforms.
Specialties among the many Part I individuals span a spread of capabilities. Some corporations deal with attritable, low-cost assault drones appropriate for high-volume manufacturing and single-use eventualities, whereas others contribute autonomy software program, swarming expertise, or superior drone steerage methods. Firms on the listing additionally differ in scale, from early-stage startups to established aerospace suppliers with current authorities contracts.
Program Goals and Outlook
The Drone Dominance Program embodies a shift towards extra speedy, aggressive acquisition cycles in protection procurement. By leveraging trade innovation and iterative analysis, the Division of Battle expects to speed up supply timelines and broaden the economic base for uncrewed aerial methods. This strategy positions warfighters on the middle of functionality evaluation and seeks to cut back obstacles historically related to protection procurement.
As Part I will get underway, the Division plans additional Gauntlet occasions throughout subsequent phases, with volumes of ordered drones rising and unit prices lowering. The long-term imaginative and prescient is to maintain an industrial ecosystem able to producing UAS belongings in giant portions whereas reinforcing technological benefit in unmanned methods.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone companies market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the business drone area and is a global speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
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